The National Fire Protection Association reports most home fires and CO poisonings occur in winter. Besides heating appliances, seasonal activities such as increased cooking, using candles and decorating Christmas trees all add to the risk.

With that in mind I took the below quiz to see how my family held up. Unfortunately or fortunately I learned that I have a long way to go in regards to getting my home ready for the future.

Right from the beginning I see that I need to replace my smoke alarms as my home was set up in 1999… so I am actually beyond the date where they needed to be replaced. I also need some more fire extinguishers for my home and monoxide detectors too. We have an escape plan in place but I know that we need to practice this more often.

This was a great test to see where we are in our home safety. I encourage all of you to test it out yourself and share where your family is in the comments below.

One in four older homes needs to update fire safety equipment. How old are your alarms?

• Replace smoke alarms every 10 years. Replace CO alarms every five to 10 years, based on the model.
• Purchase an alarm with a 10-year sealed lithium battery, such as Kidde Worry-Free smoke and CO alarms, to receive hassle-free protection for a decade –no need to change a battery or hear a low battery chirp. Available nationwide at retailers like The Home Depot and Walmart, each alarm installed will save you $40 over its life in battery costs.

Seventy-five percent of homeowners don’t know where to install smoke alarms. Do you have one on every floor, and inside/outside all bedrooms?

• Choose alarms with room-specific features, such as an LED light in the hallway, or a voice notification for the bedroom.
• Place a CO alarm near sleeping areas and on each floor. Keep them 10 feet away from fuel-burning appliances.

Do your alarms incorporate the newest features and technology?

• A sealed-in 10-year lithium battery continuously powers the alarm for 10 years.  It’s tamper-proof and can’t be removed.
• A digital display shows the level of CO in the air and updates the reading every 15 seconds.
• An intelligent multi-sensor responds faster to real fires and CO, plus it reduces nuisance alarms like those commonly caused by cooking.
• An end-of-life warning lets you know when to replace your alarms.

Do you need other safety products?

• Fire extinguisher – place one within reach in rooms where fires often begin: kitchen, garage, bedroom, living area
• Escape ladder – place in second and third-floor rooms as an alternative escape route

Have you developed a family escape plan?

• Practice it regularly. Know two ways out of every room and who will assist children and loved ones with mobility/health issues.

Do your children know their address and how to dial 911?

• Post your home address and emergency phone numbers on the refrigerator.

Are your appliances and chimney winteready?

• Have a professional inspect fuel-burning appliances to ensure they function properly and that they vent outside.
• Have a professional clean or inspect fireplaces annually. Birds and small animals can make nests and leaves can build up on top of the chimney, preventing carbon monoxide from venting properly.
• Have you created a 3-foot clutter free zone around fireplaces, space heaters or wood stoves?

For a downloadable winter home project checklist and other information, visit www.worryfreealarm.com.     ——————————————————————————————- New to the Divadom or to Dad of Divas Reviews? Please Subscribe to my RSS Feed! Subscribe in a reader Questions?Drop me a line at dadofdivas@gmail.com

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